Burns, who was in his third season last fall, would have faced a logjam of quarterbacks on the depth chart in 2013. The presumed starter is C.J. Brown, who tore an anterior cruciate ligament while making a cut during a preseason practice last August.

Burns volunteered to play quarterback after Brown’s injury. He had played the position in practice as a freshman before switching to receiver.

Burns had a memorable game against N.C. State. He rushed for 50 yards against the Wolfpack, showing the ability to put pressure on defenses and keep them guessing with his running ability.

But his season ended the same way it did for Brown and fellow quarterbacks Perry Hills and Caleb Rowe – with an injury. Hills and Rowe are back in 2013 along with transfers Ricardo Young and Dustin Dailey and freshman Shane Cockerille (Gilman).

Burns suffered a Lisfranc injury – in which bones in the midfoot are broken or ligaments are torn – against the Wolfpack but continued to play despite a noticeable limp. It’s not certain, but the injury may have happened when a defender looped an arm around Burns' waist as he faded back in the pocket. Burns stumbled awkwardly, pushing off his left foot.